Oceanside policeman pleads not guilty to theft, conspiracy charges

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A sergeant who is widely regarded as a rising star in the Oceanside Police Department is facing a possibly career-ending strike after being jailed Thursday on suspicion of knowingly receiving $54,000 in fraudulently purchased goods to update his home, including flat-screen TVs, wood flooring and high-tech equipment for a music recording studio, authorities said.

Sgt. Walter McWilson, 37, dressed in a dark suit, pleaded not guilty Thursday to six counts of grand theft, seven counts of receiving stolen property and one count of conspiracy during his arraignment in Vista Superior Court. He was then handcuffed and jailed on $150,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 9. He could be sentenced to up to five years in prison if convicted, said prosecutor Anna Winn.

Several family members who attended the arraignment declined to comment, as did his attorney.

The 10-year department veteran has been on paid administrative leave since August pending the outcome of an administrative investigation, Oceanside police Capt. Tom Aguigui said during a news conference at police headquarters.

“It's extremely disappointing, as we as police officers are granted public trust to constantly demonstrate the highest degree of integrity,” the captain said.

McWilson was most recently a supervisor for the department's Neighborhood Policing Team, as well as a hostage negotiator.

He lives in Murrieta with his girlfriend, disabled mother and one of three children, officials said.

McWilson is accused of knowingly receiving items in 2006 and 2007 purchased by another Murrieta woman who was embezzling funds from the Oceanside-based construction company where she worked.

The District Attorney's Office said McWilson had a romantic relationship with the woman, Aimee Rich, 33, who was the office manager at Royal Pacific Construction.

In May 2008, Rich's bosses reported unusual financial activity to Oceanside police, and a detective began to piece together a case against Rich. The initial investigation found that Rich had used the company's line of credit at stores including Home Depot and Lowe's to purchase an estimated $60,000 worth of items for herself, including household goods, plane tickets, spa visits and clothing, according to Rich's arrest warrant. She also wrote checks to friends totaling nearly $40,000.

A few months into the investigation, McWilson approached the detective, saying he was an “old friend” of Rich's and wanted to know more about the case, according to McWilson's arrest warrant.

About four months later, the detective came across a receipt for a mattress with McWilson's name on it. When McWilson was questioned about it, he admitted to having received some smaller items from Rich as gifts, but claimed he had no idea they were purchased fraudulently.

In numerous subsequent interviews, McWilson admitted to more and more items that he'd received. He turned many of them over to police.

The items included dumbbells, a computer, several flat-screen TVs, a keyboard, a microphone, dinners and clothing.

As Rich began cooperating with prosecutors, she told police that McWilson knew she was illegally buying the items on her company's lines of credit and that he asked her to purchase many of the expensive items for him, the warrant states. She said she bought one of the TVs so McWilson could sell it to a neighbor and pocket the cash, according to the warrant.

“Sgt. McWilson told his neighbors that he could get them a TV for a good price if they provided him with cash. They provided Sgt. McWilson with $1,200 in cash and shortly thereafter, Sgt. McWilson came to their residence with a TV still in the box,” the warrant states.

Rich pleaded guilty last month to felony embezzlement and is cooperating with prosecutors in McWilson's case.

Police Chief Frank McCoy said there is no indication that McWilson's alleged conduct occurred while he was on duty or that anyone else from the department is involved.

“This is clearly an example of our collaborative effort in making sure those allegedly responsible for committing crimes are brought to justice, even if it means one of our own,” McCoy said.

In 1993 in San Diego County, McWilson had a felony conviction for evading an officer, but it later was reduced to a misdemeanor and then expunged from his record.

Fellow officers expressed shock at the theft and other charges, describing McWilson as an up-and-coming sergeant who was passionate about serving the community and who was expected to rise in the department's leadership.

He graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and was working on a master's degree.

“There was no indication whatsoever,” said Capt. Aguigui. “We saw him as a rising star.”